This fall, the Cultural Landscape Foundation (TCLF), a USA non-profit organization established in

1998, announced that Scarboro had been added to their list of Endangered Cultural

Landscapes. Each year TCLF identifies sites in North America that are threatened in some way

by policies, development, lack of heritage designation, etc. This year’s theme was ‘Olmsted’ and

Scarboro being named to the list was certainly fitting. In fact Scarboro was the only Canadian

site to be included this year. For more information and TCLF’s write up about Scarboro go to:

https://www.tclf.org/scarboro?destination=search-results

This recognition, and especially by TCLF with all of its international connections and focus on

retaining the integrity of heritage landscapes, means a lot to our community. Scarboro’s

Heritage Committee made the application and was informed earlier in October of the

recognition. The Landslide list helps to draw attention to landscapes that, without protection,

could be lost. TCLF’s mission is to educate and engage the public to make sure landscape

heritages are visible, identified as having value, and to empower its stewards. Scarboro through

the leadership of its Heritage Committee looks forward to continuing to partner with the City of

Calgary and Heritage Calgary so that the integrity of our unique landscape features –

curvilinear streets, expansive set-backs, parks, parkettes and green spaces - are maintained. We

hope our work helps lift up the significance of heritage and cultural landscapes in Calgary, and

elsewhere in Canada and North America.

For more information about this and the work of Scarboro’s Heritage Committee, please

contact Sheena Trotter-Dennis at sheenabhume@gmail.com. Volunteers and heritage

enthusiasts are always welcome!

BUILDING A PLAYGROUND FOR ALL

Royal Sunalta Park is in the heart of the Calgary inner city communities of Sunalta and Scarboro. In 2021, when a much-loved playground at the top of the hill reached the end of its lifespan and the swing set in the lower park area was not being used, a small group of residents with young children from both neighbourhoods thought it was time to think about a vision for a new safer, more accessible outdoor playground. Building on their love for children, a desire to ensure innovative outdoor play spaces in local parks that would enhance social and learning opportunities, the team set out to plan what will soon become the new Olmsted Elm Playground. The seed has been sown. 

With a reputable playground vendor selected, plans approved by the City of Calgary, and one-third of the initial funding raised, the Olmsted Elm Playground Team is now reaching out further in the next leg of its campaign to raise the remaining 2/3 in 2 months so that we can get shovels in the ground by spring and kids playing again in the park by summer of 2023.

Learn more at here: https://olmstedelmplayground.wixsite.com/scarboro